It’s the original pantomime adventure story – a quest for fame and fortune on the streets of London with a surprise detour to Poole Quay along the way. That deviation nicely mirrors the unexpected turn of events that brought actor Kieran Morris to Lighthouse this Christmas in the title role of Dick Whittington.
For just a few months ago, he thought he’d finished with acting and was settling into a new career in a new city…
“I actually thought I was retiring from acting!” he explains. “I had the really fortunate chance to do the same production in the same theatre that I met Katie, my now-fiancée, last year. We moved from London to Glasgow and I got a job selling theatre tickets. In my head, I was done, but then it just came calling again… and here I am!
“It’s been an interesting year, picking up other life skills and all that, but there was a lot of fidgeting in my chair because I’m not used to sitting down for that long!”
With a wealth of pantomime experience that belies his short acting career to date, Keiran is well aware he’ll have precious little time for sitting down this Christmas…
“No, definitely not! I’ve done Dick Whittington once before and it’s been really exciting to find out how different this is to that one. It’s a great story though – small-town guy goes to live in a big city, encounters a problem and overcomes it to become a better person.
“The magic is what the writer overlays on top of that.”
Made in Poole especially for Lighthouse audiences, Dick Whittington is the latest in a run of hit productions in recent years and, like last year’s smash hit Sleeping Beauty and national Panto Award winners Aladdin and Cinderella, is written and directed by CBeebies’ Chris Jarvis with production design by James Smith.
So, had Kieran worked with Chris before?
“No. Other than speaking on the phone, the first time I met him was when I came here in the summer to have photos taken. I was really excited. I can’t explain how many people messaged me like, ‘Oh my God, you’re working with Chris Jarvis, he’s a genius!’
“With a lot of productions, you don’t get a tonne of creative liberty, you are there to serve that production. But here, I do really like that it’s a very collaborative and creative process, and ideas are welcome. You get to play with it, so I love that and I’m up for giving anything a go!”
Keiran’s enthusiasm is plain to see and panto courses through his veins, but it wasn’t always that way.
“Funnily enough, my first experience of panto was actually being in one! I didn’t grow up with panto, so the first time in a rehearsal room I was hearing this language that I was just not used to. It’s been a journey, but now I feel like I’m somewhat fluent.
“I mean, I love the big musicals and shows, but they’re taking a specific thing to each venue, whereas with pantomimes, the place creates them. It’s so interesting to see how different it is everywhere. I’ve heard such good things about the Poole panto – how there’s something for everyone. Often, it can be young people’s first time at the theatre and, for me, that’s the best bit – just knowing the accessibility of it all.”
Although he’s spending Christmas about as far away from home as is possible without getting wet, Keiran hopes fiancée Katie will make it down south to see him before the run ends.
“She’s a wardrobe supervisor and she’s also doing panto – in Kilmarnock. That’s why, as cast and crew, you bond so much in panto as a lot of the time you’re away from home. So, meeting up during the run is going to be tricky, but she finishes at New Year and if she can brave the ten-hour journey, then she’ll be here.”
:: Dick Whittington is sponsored by National Express and Raymond James Poole and can be seen at Lighthouse Poole from until Sunday 4 January. Tickets available at https://www.lighthousepoole.co.uk/event/dick-whittington/ or on 01202 280000.
(NC)